Bra structure having rigid under-arm support members

ABSTRACT

A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use; (c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer, for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rear ends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connected directly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of the frontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of the strap.

[0001] Human breasts are often supported by a garment known as a bra,whose main purpose is to transfer the forces involved in breast supportto other body structures principally the shoulders and the rib cage.

[0002] This invention relates to a bra of the conventional type in whicheach shoulder of the wearer supports weight by means of a flexible band,usually of cloth, which passes over each shoulder and approximately atright angles to the line between the two shoulders; this is known as thebra strap. In other arrangements the band passes around the neck—the“halter neck” bra—the present invention is not concerned with these. Ina conventional bra it is tension in the front part of each bra strapwhich carries the weight of each breast.

[0003] In order to stabilise the position of the structure, some meansmust be provided to ensure that the bra strap tension is equalised frontto back. The breast weight, however, is in front only and this, in theconventional bra, has to be balanced by equal forces produced in theremainder of the bra structure. A major contribution to this is made bythe back band tension and the forces in the bra wings. Distortion iscommon and the back band often rises to equilibrate forces with thevertical strap tension at the back.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a bra structure in whichthe strap tension can be better equalised front and back so as to avoiddistortion of the structure and consequent discomfort for the wearer byhalving the strap tension.

[0005] Accordingly the present invention provides a bra structurecomprising:

[0006] (a) a frontal assembly including a pair of cup shaped supportmembers;

[0007] (b) a pair of shoulder straps each of which is adapted to extendforwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder of the wearer in use;

[0008] (c) respective means for interconnecting the front and rear endsof each strap under the corresponding arm of the wearer;

[0009] for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rearends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connecteddirectly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to thecorresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of thefrontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of thestrap.

[0010] Preferably the means for interconnecting the front and rear endsof each strap comprises a rigid support member whose lower end isconnected to the rear end of the strap and whose upper end is connectedto an upper region of the corresponding side of the frontal assembly towhich the front end of the strap is also attached.

[0011] In this way the bra strap tension can be equilibrated front andback so as to provide a stable node capable of supporting the breastweight.

[0012] An additional strap member may be provided which extends betweenthe two rigid support members, and is connected to each of them at apoint which is offset in a vertical plane from the connection point withthe interconnecting means, in such a way as to counteract any tendencyof the front end of each rigid support member to rotate downwardly,under the load from the frontal assembly.

[0013] In one embodiment the additional strap member is connected toeach rigid support member at a point which is above the connection pointand is arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.

[0014] In another embodiment the additional strap member is connected toeach rigid support member at a point which is below the connection pointand is arranged to extend across the front of the wearer, below thefrontal assembly.

[0015] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a first embodimentof a bra structure;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;and

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective frontal view of an alternative embodiment.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a rigid interconnecting member 1 joins thetwo ends of the shoulder strap 2, and midway (in side elevation) betweenthe points where the straps are attached is the node of balance 3.

[0020] At this node a rigid support member 4, is pivotally connected. Aback band 7, FIG. 2 is connected between the rear ends of the two rigidsupport members and supplies a tension T. The weight of a breast is Wand is carried by cup 6, attached to the front end of component 4.

[0021] The loads on the structure can be analysed as follows:

[0022] If the vertical distance between the backband attachment point 5,and node 3 is “a”, (FIG. 1) and the horizontal distance between the nodeand the point at which the weight W of the breast can be considered toact is “b”.

[0023] Resolving moments about the node 3:

Wb=Ta

[0024] It can be seen that component 1 is in equilibrium and itfunctions to ensure that the weight is carried equally by both the frontand back of the bra strap.

[0025] Resolving forces in component 1 vertically:

W=front strap tension+back strap tension

[0026] i.e. the strap tension is W/2—half that of a conventional brastrap. Also the tension T is balanced horizontally by a front chesttension through the frontal assembly (the same as in a conventionalbra).

[0027] Although the interconnecting member 1 is illustrated as a rigidelongate link, its length chould be reduced—even to zero. The two endsof each shoulder strap would be connected directly together, under thearm of the wearer, since this would still provide a stable connectionpoint 3 for the rigid support member 4.

[0028] In addition, the rigid support member 4 can be made in variousdifferent shapes. In the illustrated embodiment it is shown as generallyT-shaped with the ends of the arms of the T, and the lower end of theleg of the T, forming connection points to the other parts of thestructure. However the rearwardly extending arm of the T is not strictlynecessary for it to function in the required manner, so it could bereplaced by a more simply shaped member, having part connected to theinterconnecting member 1 at the balance point 3, and the other partconnected to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly. The backband 7 would then be connected to it, above the balance point 3.

[0029] The back tension may also be applied directly to theinterconnecting member 1, or directly to the support node 3; suchtension components are to prevent any tendency of the rigid supportmember to rotate.

[0030] In an alternative arrangement a front band could be provided tostabilise the rigid support members 4, which would be connected to eachof them below the connection point 3 rather than above it, so that itwould still counteract the tendency of the rigid support member 5 torotate.

[0031] However in this case it will be necessary to provide a retainingstrap extending across the back of the wearer, which may be connectedeither between the interconnecting members 1, or between the rigidsupport members 4.

[0032]FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the strap10has its front end 12 connected to the upper region of one side of thefrontal cup assembly, while its lower rear end 14 is connected to anupwardly extending rigid link or strut 16. The upper end of the link 16is also connected to the upper region of the frontal assembly, and inthis way the link acts to interconnect the front and rear ends of thestrap, whilst at the same time acting to directly support the weight ofthe corresponding side of the frontal assembly. Compared to theembodiment of FIG. 1, the structure is thus considerably simplifiedbecause only a single rigid link (16) is required on each side toachieve the same supporting effect as both of the interconnected rigidmembers 1 and 4 of the first embodiment.

1. A bra structure comprising: (a) a frontal assembly including a pairof cup shaped support members; (b) a pair of shoulder straps each ofwhich is adapted to extend forwardly and rearwardly over one shoulder ofthe wearer in use; and (c) respective means for interconnecting thefront and rear ends of each strap under the corresponding arm of thewearer; for each strap, the means for interconnecting the front and rearends of the strap including a rigid support member which is connecteddirectly or indirectly to the rear end of the strap and also to thecorresponding side of the frontal assembly, whereby the load of thefrontal assembly is balanced between the front and rear ends of thestrap.
 2. A bra structure according to claim 1 in which the means forinterconnecting the front and rear ends of each strap comprises a rigidsupport member whose rear end is connected to the rear end of the strapand whose front end is connected to an upper region of the correspondingside of the frontal assembly the front end of the strap also beingattached to the corresponding side of the frontal assembly.
 3. A brastructure according to claim 1 in which the means for interconnectingthe front and rear ends of each strap includes a first rigid link orpivotable connection between the ends, and a second rigid support memberwhich is connected to the central region of the rigid link, or to thepivotable connection, so as to distribute the load of the correspondingside of the frontal assembly evenly between the two ends of the strap.4. A bra structure according to claim 3 further comprising an additionalstrap member which extends between the two rigid support members, and isconnected to each of them at a point which is offset in a vertical planefrom the connection point with the interconnecting means, in such a wayas to counteract any tendency of the front end of each rigid supportmember to rotate downwardly, under the load from the frontal assembly.5. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which the additional strapmember is connected to each rigid support member at a point which isabove the connection point and is arranged to extend across the back ofthe wearer.
 6. A bra structure according to claim 4 in which theadditional strap member is connected to each rigid support member at apoint which is below the connection point and is arranged to extendacross the front of the wearer, below the frontal assembly.
 7. A brastructure according to claim 6 further comprising a retaining strapconnected between both rigid support members or both interconnectingmeans and arranged to extend across the back of the wearer.
 8. A brastructure according to claim 4 in which each rigid support membercomprises a first portion which extends forwardly from the connectionpoint, to the frontal assembly, and a second portion which extendsrearwardly and/or upwardly for connection of the said additional backstrap member.
 9. A bra structure according to claim 5 or claim 6 inwhich each rigid support member comprises a first portion which extendsforwardly from the connection point, to the frontal assembly, and asecond portion which extends downwardly for connection of the additionalfront strap member.